Uh, I just got around to looking at my immunizations form and realized that a Hep B vaccine is required at my school before enrollment. It takes three doses over a six-month period. I don't have six months - the semester starts in August. And I know I've never had this vaccine - it's come up before that I haven't, but my GP told me years ago not to bother with it (thanks, bro).I've already e-mailed admissions to find out what to do, but curious whether anyone is aware of someone not being allowed to start law school on time because of an issue like this? A little reassurance would help me stay just this side of freaking the fuck out.

I was researching Hep B vaccine for something else last year, because I knew I'd had the first 2 of the series about 15 years ago but never gotten the 3rd. The first dose gives you most of the immunity and the two followups are basically just boosters. I'd bet starting the series by the time the school year starts will suffice.

Schools also don't usually request to see the immunization forms they just want you to check off a box on a form saying you have at least started the vaccine. Even with that you could just have checked the box without having started the shots, honor system type thing.

Thanks, guys. There is a form that you have to turn in, and it says three doses are required before you enroll, but I'm hoping there's a way around it. I'm going to try to see a doctor this week to start the vaccine. I just signed a new lease this weekend to move for school and am about to quit my job, hence the freaking out over the stupid form that I figured would be a mere formality. I've been oddly calm until this point. It's ALWAYS the little things, isn't it?

Lawst wrote:Thanks, guys. There is a form that you have to turn in, and it says three doses are required before you enroll, but I'm hoping there's a way around it. I'm going to try to see a doctor this week to start the vaccine. I just signed a new lease this weekend to move for school and am about to quit my job, hence the freaking out over the stupid form that I figured would be a mere formality. I've been oddly calm until this point. It's ALWAYS the little things, isn't it?

They must know that not everyone will HAVE six months between being admitted/committing to a school and first day of classes. Hopefully they'll be reasonable!

Lawst wrote:Uh, I just got around to looking at my immunizations form and realized that a Hep B vaccine is required at my school before enrollment. It takes three doses over a six-month period. I don't have six months - the semester starts in August. And I know I've never had this vaccine - it's come up before that I haven't, but my GP told me years ago not to bother with it (thanks, bro).I've already e-mailed admissions to find out what to do, but curious whether anyone is aware of someone not being allowed to start law school on time because of an issue like this? A little reassurance would help me stay just this side of freaking the fuck out.

Usually the requirements for the Hep or Meningococcal vaccines is for students who live in the dorms. Are you sure the requirement applies to you? Are you planning to live in university housing?

Lawst wrote:Uh, I just got around to looking at my immunizations form and realized that a Hep B vaccine is required at my school before enrollment. It takes three doses over a six-month period. I don't have six months - the semester starts in August. And I know I've never had this vaccine - it's come up before that I haven't, but my GP told me years ago not to bother with it (thanks, bro).I've already e-mailed admissions to find out what to do, but curious whether anyone is aware of someone not being allowed to start law school on time because of an issue like this? A little reassurance would help me stay just this side of freaking the fuck out.

Usually the requirements for the Hep or Meningococcal vaccines is for students who live in the dorms. Are you sure the requirement applies to you? Are you planning to live in university housing?

Actually, that's only true for Meningitis vaccine, at least at the several schools I and some coworkers will attend. The Hep shots are required for all, and varicella and meningitis is just for people in dorms.

Lawst wrote:Uh, I just got around to looking at my immunizations form and realized that a Hep B vaccine is required at my school before enrollment. It takes three doses over a six-month period. I don't have six months - the semester starts in August. And I know I've never had this vaccine - it's come up before that I haven't, but my GP told me years ago not to bother with it (thanks, bro).I've already e-mailed admissions to find out what to do, but curious whether anyone is aware of someone not being allowed to start law school on time because of an issue like this? A little reassurance would help me stay just this side of freaking the fuck out.

Usually the requirements for the Hep or Meningococcal vaccines is for students who live in the dorms. Are you sure the requirement applies to you? Are you planning to live in university housing?

I'm not living in the dorms, but it's required for all full-time students. So are vaccinations for mumps, measles, rubella and meningitis, even for people who aren't living in dorms. I don't really care about getting those done, those are a one-shot deal or a two month time period at most. The Hep B is the only one that has the six-month timeline, which is really the problem.

Generally, if you don't already have all the shots, but you tell them when you're planning to get them and then follow through, it's not a problem.

I was enrolled in grad school and taking classes when they told me I needed to update my immunizations. It was a "if you promise that you'll get them done, then no problem" situation. Not a "YOU WILL BE EXPELLED IMMEDIATELY" situation. They tend to not be huge dickwads about this kind of thing.

angua wrote:Generally, if you don't already have all the shots, but you tell them when you're planning to get them and then follow through, it's not a problem.

I was enrolled in grad school and taking classes when they told me I needed to update my immunizations. It was a "if you promise that you'll get them done, then no problem" situation. Not a "YOU WILL BE EXPELLED IMMEDIATELY" situation. They tend to not be huge dickwads about this kind of thing.

Thanks, that's pretty much what happened when I told the school. I was just freaked out to discover this over the weekend when there was no one to call. I've already started getting the first round of shots, so it should be fine. But thank you for confirming that it's not a huge deal.

jarofsoup wrote:are you living on campus? I thought the big one was meningitis?

Not on campus, so I don't have to get the meningitis one, but everyone at my school has to have the Hep B vaccine as well as mumps, measles, rubella. The MMR one I definitely had and had bloodwork done to prove it. But I never had the hepatitis one.

jarofsoup wrote:are you living on campus? I thought the big one was meningitis?

Not on campus, so I don't have to get the meningitis one, but everyone at my school has to have the Hep B vaccine as well as mumps, measles, rubella. The MMR one I definitely had and had bloodwork done to prove it. But I never had the hepatitis one.

You probably want to start that. Where the hell are you going to school where Hep B. is a problem?

While your at it you should get a flu shot and make sure you are up to date with your TDAP. Dont need any of that first semester.